Some stories have legs. Others are centipedes. Senior Editor Stina Sternberg's assertion, in her August "Ask Stina" column in Golf Digest, that no 4-handicap beat any LPGA player on a 7,000-yard course has drawn tons of mail, some supportive, but some, like the letter below, well, not so much so.

Dear Editor,
Once again, Stina out-does herself.

In her latest column she states as fact that a man who is 4-handicapper and drives the ball 300+ yards would be beaten badly by ANY of the LPGA's 152 players including non-exempt players on a 7000+ yard course. It's the "any" that is ridiculous. This claim of hers ranks up with the "I'd pull the cigar out of his mouth and stomp on it" column. Ms. Sternberg may think she knows all and is the final authority on all things golf, but it can safely be said she isn't and doesn't.

She needs to learn how to offer an opinion as an opinion and at least infer respect for others. Until then it is very hard for me or any of my contemporaries to take anything she says in her columns seriously.

Sincerely,
Jerry Garica

That 7,000-yard element is important. Besides the debate here, there's a spirited discussion on Golf Channel's web site about how the yardage changes the equation because that length inevitably adds strokes to a shorter-hitters game (assuming that the 4-handicap male is a longer hitter) They're not buying Stina's contention. Also check out the debate on Golfwrx.com and Golf Club Atlas.

Legs, indeed.

--Bob Carney

(Illustration by John Ritter)

Yesterday we posted letters in support of Golf World's item on President Obama's golf, all reacting irately to a letter condemning the story in the July 27 issue. Here are a couple from the other side of the aisle.

Dear Editor,
I certainly agree with the other readers about keeping Obama out of your fine magazine. The man is not a golfer, has nothing to do with the game and will never understand it's virtues. Stick to what you know and keep the cheap, political PR stunts out of your magazine.

Jim Shelly
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Dear Editor, I agree with Loren Klaus' comment in the July 27 issue. Keeping politics out of golf is a good idea. Less coverage of Obama is always a good idea. by email

For those of you interested in presidential golf, both red and blue, check out Golf Digest's latest story or the USGA.org photo gallery on the subject.

--Bob Carney

Golf World and Golf Digest expect spirited reaction when they write about a golfing politician, be he of left or right persuasion. But hell hath no fury like the reaction to that reaction. A letter in the July 27 issue of Golf World criticizing an item about Obama's golf game inspired a number of angry emails.

Dear Editor,
In your July 27 issue you published a slanderous screed regarding President Obama's Communist leanings. Mr. Klaus, of Glen Carbon, Illinois chided you for a perceived political leaning. What in the world does he think his remarks represent?

Golf is golf, politics is politics and ignorance shows up in both now and again. I sure hope I don't get paired up with the likes of Mr. Klaus. I would expect his game to be similar to his opinions.

Richard Cardwell
Seattle, WA.

Dear Editor,
A letter in the July 27 issue of Golf World by Mr. Klaus of Illinois ends with a suggestion that you "poll readers" as to whether they enjoy the occasional item about the President's interest in or activities related to golf. Put me down as YES! I think it's great we have a President who, with the impossible demands on his time, takes a small bit of that time to enjoy our great game.

As for Mr. Klaus' letter, I feel it's a sad commentary on the state of mind of some of those who voted for the other candidate. Instead of doing what they can to assist our country in dealing with an array of critical problems, they loudly proclaim their dislike and disrespect for the man who was elected by a majority to lead us.

Michael Veal
San Antonio, TX

Dear Editor,
Of all the letters to publish, you selected "HALT TO THE CHIEF" ? You really think the best reflection of your readers' views are those of a right wing idiot who hates our president?

You should be ashamed.

I am disgusted.

Mike Barrand
Bonney Lake, WA

Dear Editor,
I would appreciate it if we can keep politics out of Golf World. The letter from Loren E. Klaus about what he considers weekly "promos for President Obama" is just sour grapes from a right wing idealogue. References to the Daily Worker and Pravda is way off base and disrespectful to our President and our democratic process. Mr. Klaus wants you to poll your readers on this issue. Here is my vote. Ban letters from readers who have a political agenda like Mr. Klaus.

Pete DeSisto
Greenville, SC 29609

Dear Editor,
Please continue your excellent writing about the sport millions of Americans of all political persuasions enjoy and disregard the advice of Mr. Klaus. Based upon the results of the last election, doing otherwise might not be wise. Another President joining our ranks should be celebrated and reported upon, not disregarded.

For the record, I'm a Caucasian male who's 64 years old. Just in case someone wondered.

Michael R. Schoeppach
Oro Valley, AZ

Tomorrow, the other side of the story....

--Bob Carney

What I love about great golf events, and the British Open certainly qualified, is that they inspire you to write. What's more, there's a correlation between good events and good letters. Here are a couple of very good ones on the British Open, ABC's coverage, and Golf World's review of it in the July 27 issue. In that column Mike Purkey called ABC's Mike Tirico "the most prepared anchor on television," was generally positive about ABC's telecasts, but pointed out that because of the large number of commentators, both Tom Weiskofp and Judy Rankin were underused. Two readers saw some things Purkey didn't.

Dear Editor,
Did anyone else notice Tom Watson's discreet act of graciousness at the awards ceremony at Turnberry? After receiving the Silver Server for finishing second, Watson took his place on the 18th green next to Matteo Manassero, the 16-year old amateur from Italy, who earned the Silver Medal for low amateur with a final round 69 and a tie for 13th place.

The television cameras caught what happened next. Setting aside his heart-wrenching defeat, Watson leaned over to the youngster and offered the following words of encouragement: "You'll be here someday."

Stewart Cink is the Champion Golfer of the Year, and deservedly so. But Tom Watson proved what it means to be a true champion in every sense of the word.

James W. Scott, Jr.
Abington, PA

Dear Editor,
I could not let the coincidence of the greatest golf drama in the last thirty years and the worst golf TV coverage of all time go unchallenged. TV Rewind let ABC off easy. ABC is basically out of the golf coverage business, deciding to put its broadcast assets elsewhere and it showed. I know it’s a BBC feed but it has been that way forever. Among its numerous offenses;

1. No comment on what club Watson was hitting from the 18th fairway.

2. No comment on the degree of difficulty his third shot on 18 represented or whether he should consider wedge or putter (or hybrid). Johnny Miller may be controversial but he would had a read on that shot and would have shared it.

3. Severe mishandling of the broadcast “talent” on the show including, “too many cooks” (which TV Rewind did cite), an Azinger who seemed angry to be there, and a Judy Rankin criminally underused.

4. Special booby prize to Curtis Strange who made ridiculous comments like “doesn’t anyone want to win this tournament?” in the last few holes of a close major with players contending with a 20 mph crosswind.

To ABC, (with apologies to Godfather III) if you want to get out of golf, we won’t stop you.

Dan Morley
Old Greenwich, CT

Dan might have added: "And don't tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry."

Thanks, gentlemen.

--Bob Carney

Your reactions to the British Open, and to our coverage of the Open, continue to pour in. I like these:

Dear Editor,
What a season for golf!

Who can ever forget Kenny Perry's sentimental Masters win, Mickelson's emotional triumph at the US Open and Tom Watson's win for the ages at the Open? What a storybook season so far!

Oh, wait....I forgot. That was a storybook.

Golf gets compared to life quite often. In a time when we all needed a fantasy, the sport we all love has shown us life's cruel reality. Let's keep playing.

Wally Boyd
Kingsport, TN

Dear Editor,
Before the start of the British Open, I'm sure there were many that predicted that in the end you would probably see a "Nike swoosh" and a golfer with the initials "TW" left standing. But Stewart Cink and Tom Watson?

Duke Johnson
Brooklyn, NY

Dear Editor, I did not root for Stewart Cink at the 2009 British Open. In fact, I think it's fair to say no one in America, outside of Cink's immediate family, wanted to see him deter the Tom Watson miracle in the making. However, the man made a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole to get into the playoff and deserves his due. I think it is a slight to Cink to place a photo of him clutching the Claret Jug on the cover of GolfWord with the caption, "One man's pleasure is another man's pain." It would be truly wrong for the golf media to let him go down in history as the man who stole Watson's Open. Cink played some brilliant golf and deserves to be recognized for that, more than anything else. Thank you.

Alan Borowsky

Dear Editor,
It really iritates me to see how many golf commentators are all talking about how Tom Watson choked. It must be a prerequisite on becoming a commentator that you alway show the negitive side of a person. It happened on the Golf Channel it happened on ESPN-2 on first and ten. It got so bad I just turned the TV off. If these people that report all the negatives could still play the sport I might want to listen to them. Most of them are in their 40's maybe 50 but you never see them out on the course. I think what Tom Watson did was fantastic. Even if he didn't win he kept us glued to our TV's for 4 days. Yes it was disheartening for him to lose but to think that a man just shy of his 60th birthday could accomplish what he did. He should be praised not saying he choked. I challenge all the commentators that were there and at the studio to go play a course like they did for The Open and to come close to a score like Mr. Watson shot with what was on the line and see how well they do. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and ridicule.

Jim Hasty
Anderson, IN

Dear Editor, What a disgraceful performance at the end of the British Open by Tom Watson. After playing top notch golf for 3 1/2 rounds he turns into a 25-handicapper on the 18th & the four-hole playoff. If this was horse racing there would have been a steward's inquiry. VERY strange finish. William Healey East Hanover, NJ

Dear Editor,
Jaime Diaz's suggestion that Ernie Els and Retief Goosen lack "competitive toughness" and possibly have "a certain softness" because they didn't "close strong" at Turnberry borders on stupidity.  Has Diaz forgotten that those two South African golfers own a total of four U. S. Open trophies?

Hutch Johnson
Barnesville, GA

On the subject of Jaime's column, in which he suggested that the very fact of a 59-year-old contender suggests a weakness in the present class of tour professionals, brought tons of comment and debate. Check out these comments on Geoff Shackelford's blog.

--Bob Carney

Let the record show that the first letter signaling the beginning of the end of the Tiger Woods' Era arrived this week, just after the Open Championship. The King is dead, says our friend from Roseville, California.

Dear Editor,
It is apparent that Woods reign as a dominant player is coming to a close.He has progresively played worse in each of his last three majors and it would not be a surprise if he were to fail to win another major as players no longer are in awe of him.

Gene Martineau
Roseville, CA

On behalf of all of us who had predicted Tiger victories at both the U.S. Open and the British, let me say we're not convinced, Gene. It's not the awe that wins majors, it's the mind and the swing. Tiger's working on the swing. The mind's fine; the awe will follow. Here's my prediction: Tiger Woods wins the PGA Championship by 5, and we're all awestruck all over again.

--Bob Carney

Was I the only one who grew weary of the precious, soul-of-golf promos that ran all weekend, seemingly in and out of every break? Or, the only one who began to confuse the commercials--Rolex's was great--with the "editorial" previews? (I found myself asking, Was that of an ad for Turnberry Resort or the lead-in to the coverage?) The answer, apparently, is, I wasn't the only one confused or worn out by these "feel" pieces. Your comments on ABC's coverage reflect similar views, along with an assortment of comments about the team--some kind, some not so. Your take on the commentary ranged from "at least it wasn't Johnny Miller" to "shut up!"

Dear Editor, I am glad to see the end of TNT, their coverage was awful from Turnberry. If The Masters do 58 minutes of action from each hour then TNT seemed to do 2 minutes of action and 58 minutes of endless chat, “essays” and adverts. Sounds like the commentators and other hangers on had a good time, pity we didn’t see any golf....hope ESPN put focus back on the action and have more cameras than the two TNT seemed to have...

Norman Sterling
Milton, GA

Dear Editor,
Is it too much to ask for ABC come on during the weekend and show some
live golf during the first half-hour of coverage? Instead, we are
given information that everyone watching already knew. We tune in to
watch golf, so please show it!

Rob Kowalski
Dallas, TX

Dear Editor:
ABC’s coverage of the Open golf tournament on Sunday underscores why they were chosen to telecast only a few tournaments each year. It took 45 minutes for the viewers to see a live shot. The entire first hour was anything but tournament coverage. They showed a few shots on tape, but the rest of the time was spent with their usual penchant for overhyping the history the course, and the favorite, and watching Tom Watson hit practice shots. Without Tiger, ABC was fortunate that Tom gave them something to attract a larger viewing audience. However, they greatly overdid it. Viewers who are serious golfers disdain this kind of TV coverage. They had an excellent opportunity to show some live shots of others who made the cut so that viewers' could see their favorite participants, not a travelog or a Watson love-in. It was ridiculous. Thank goodness ABC telecasts minimal tournaments during the course of the year. Let’s hear it for CBS and NBC who understand why viewers tune in, and not out.

Clyde Smith
Sea Island, GA

Dear Editor,
After viewing the Open Championship with my TV remote on mute 80% of the time I would like to suggest to the execs of our major networks that they tune in the European Tour events on the Golf Channel to hear announcers talking about golf. Judy Rankin and Andy North were all we needed,the rest should have stayed home. Thank you.

Al Stirling
Longwood, FL

Dear Editor,
Those that question whether golf is truly a gentleman's game need only to witness the demeanor of Tom Watson during the final round of the Open. In losing he was the penultimate example of grace, class and humility. Well done, sir.

Randall Jeffery
Windermere, FL

Dear Editor,
Kudos to the commentators of TNT & ABC on the coverage of “The Open”. They explained the nuances of links golf and the options players faced in shot selection. What a difference from the negative comments of the insipid Johnny Miller.

Sue De Voe
Sisters, OR

Dear Editor,
I enjoyed the Open for two reasons: Tom Watson's run for the title and the fact I didn't have to listen to the rants of Johnny Miller, the most overrated and annoying commentator on television.

Tom Vandenberg
Kalamazoo MI

Dear Editor,
Why would Rick Reilly, doing a final piece thanking Tom Watson on ABC sunday , take a shot at Tiger, pretty much saying he is not a gentleman? We can take it a step further, and question why ABC would allow it to be aired. This was way out of line!

Lew Sypher
Rotonda West, FL

It was a different kind of golf telecast for many reasons, beginning with the oh-so-promoted Scottish venue and the free-agent-style broadcast team (Weiskopf, Strange, Reilly, et al.) to surprises like the 16-year-old Italian amateur, the enduring saga of our 59-year-old leading man, the absence over the weekend of the world No. 1, and the fact that he was even taken to task for his behavior before he left. A Watson victory, one thinks, would have transformed these disparate elements into an unforgettable collage. As it was, for me anyway, the pieces remain separate, unglued, and perhaps your comments reflect that.

--Bob Carney

In her August "Ask Stina" column, Senior Editor Stina Sternberg responded to the question of whether a 4-handicap male player could outplay an LPGA pro. A reader had a friend who thought he could. Stina called the man "delusional." "As a 4-handicapper, he'd get so badly beaten by any of the LPGA's 152 players (even those with nonexempt status) that he'd have a tough time getting back up." The question, and Stina's response, generated a lot of (mostly male) mail.

Dear Stina,
I am glad the viewer listed a 4-handicapper in the question because if you go to a 2-handicapper and provide him with the conditions the ladies play on he will be a scratch or better. I would take him over two-thirds of the field at most ladies tournaments, maybe more if played from the tips. Consider: Watered-down bunkers pristinely raked; rolled greens that are fast and smooth (most good golfers prefer fast greens, but the course can't keep greens alive cut that low all the time). Most good courses have bunkers in front of all par 5s and I don't see that at many women's venues. I will probably go to the Women's U.S. Open at Pinehurst for one day just to see where the ladies play from. I have played that course several times. It can be a challenge if the greens are hard and fast and the tees are back. I've posted a 74 and a few 76's from the men's tees.

Brad
by email

Dear Stina,
Good day. A previous writer said his 4-handicap friend believed he (hitting the ball 300 yards plus) could beat the average LPGA tour pro on 18 holes. I believe it would depend greatly on the course. If course conditions are like those at Congressional or Oakmont for a PGA Tour event I may give the edge to the big hitter. First, because the big hitter can spin the ball and hold the greens and the closer you are to the green the better off you are on such courses. In addition, courses with par 3s in excess of 240 yards (Congressional #2) will not help the average LPGA member as I do not believe they have a club that would hold those greens.

Now, for the dose of reality to the amateur. Amateurs in golf lack the mental aspect (unless they have played a professional sport like Tony Romo or John Elway) and when confronted with playing with a pro would perform in ways foreign to them because of being nervous. Now if I could take Mr. Romo (2) or Elway (1) in the same bet it would be a no brain-er for me as they should triumph given their abilities to perform under pressure and their physical prowess in given situations.

I do agree with you about the percentages in driving, etc., but I also submit that a course set up to PGA Tour standards would also not benefit the average (not the best) LPGA tour pro as it would be tougher than a Women's U.S. Open.

Let me know the time and place this takes place and I will bring my wallet depending on: the course, setup, and who is playing as well as their sports resume.

Cheers,
Roger Wiskavitch
by email

Dear Stina,
Not only are you spot on about a 4-handicap player getting waxed by any LPGA pro, but I would say the top AJGA junior girl would kill the guy as well. I have played squash at a very high level for most of my adult life and have played against the top women squash players and when younger, I could kind of hold my own. But I lost to most of them. And squash is a fairly minor unknown game. Guys don't get it: Venus Williams, Dinara Safina would kill all but the top men's college players in tennis. The top women softball pitchers would routinely strike out all but the best men baseball players. I could go on. I am a 8-handicap golfer who took up the game at age 38 and what I have seen is it would take a country club player with at least a +2 to even stand a chance and then not much of one. Being a father of three daughters who all played competetive sports I have seen it. Give me the name of the number 100-ranked LPGA player and I would bet paychecks on her against a 4 on ANY course.

Fred Duboc
by email

Dear Stina, I want to comment on your recent column in Golf Digest discussing the 4-handicapper that thinks he can beat most LPGA players. Clearly this guy is out of touch. The women of the LPGA, Duramed and college ranks are real athletes’ many of whom maintain a workout schedule equal to that of the best athletes’ in the world regardless of sport or gender. All one needs to do is watch the re-runs of Big Break to see some great women golfers. Kim Welsh and Gerina Mendoza both drive the ball around 300 yards consistently. I’m a 6-handicap and I would never think to play any plus 3 handicapper even-up on any course regardless of length. The big issue here isn’t length or gender. These women are just plain better golfers than a 4- or 6-handicapper. Guys like “Mister 4-handicap” give the rest of us(men) a bad name.

Matthew Geier
Saint Charles, Ill

Let's set aside the talent level for a moment. Nerves would do the man in. A couple days after our U.S. Open Challenge amateur winner, Larry Giebelhausen, shot 101 at Bethpage, we played at another Long Island course. Granted, the set-up was nowhere near as difficult, but it was not an easy golf course. Larry shot even par on the front nine, three or four over on the back. It was not his talent, but rather the pressurized situation at the Challenge, the fact that he was totally out of his element, that had been the issue at Bethpage. And it would be, too, for our 4-handicapper against the LPGA players

But it would be fun to see, wouldn't it?

--Bob Carney

Jaime Diaz's August column in Golf Digest, which addressed the future of Augusta National and the potential for a female member there (Jaime suggested Condoleeza Rice as a candidate), drew this letter from an unhappy Massachusetts reader.

Thanks for your letter, Mr. Lundy. Jaime Diaz's assessment of the situation at Augusta is not "Golf Digest's" opinion. It's Jaime's assessment, based on his reportage, considerable experience and analysis. (We've run viewpoints that run counter to his, for sure). The column was Jaime's view of things, which is what a column is all about. We want our columnists to insightful and thought-provoking, not "politically correct." Augusta National will do what it chooses to do. Whether Jaime's insight into its future is correct or not...that remains to be seen.

--Bob Carney

Mike Purkey's TV Rewind column generates a lot of mail, especially when he talks about the amount of TV time Tiger is getting. Of CBS's At&T National coverage, Purkey said: "If you didn't know better, you would have thought the last 90 minutes of the AT&T National was masquerading as the latest episode of 'Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.' That's because CBS all but ignored the rest of the field as Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim took the telecast hostage last Sunday afternoon."

Dear Editor,
I am so tired of watching and listening to the one-man-show on Tiger Woods, that now I just leave the mute button on. At least, that way, I'm not subjected to a non-stop verbal attack; and if I have a good book on hand, I can just look up now and then and get the scores. It's such a shame we can't see and hear about ALL the wonderful players. The announcers are ruining it for all of us.

Edward K. Sitkowski
Novi, MI

Dear Editor,
I just finished reading Mike Purkey's article and felt a need to comment
about it. Mike has hit on something that has bothered me for quite some
time. I fondly remember the days when TV coverage was concentrated mainly
on holes 16 through 18. And we got to see all the golfers make their way
through these holes. That way we could become familiar with the names of
even the lower ranked golfers, and maybe this would spur them on to play
more consistently, as they would not have to feel as though they were in a
fishbowl, when playing against one of the "big" guys.

Personally, I would love to see the coverage go back to that long
ago way of doing it.

John B. Lange
Winsted, CT

Dear Editor, Although Mike Purkey had big shoes to fill in the TV Rewind section, he's done nothing less than excellent work. I look forward to reading it each and every week.

Brent Lee
Tsawwassen, British Columbia

Thanks for the letters. In defense of CBS I will say one thing. Tiger Woods did win the tournament. On the other hand, I get that you would like to see more than just the winner every week.

--Bob Carney